Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Benfica ended in chaos, frustration, and a moment that quickly went viral.
With the scoreline still offering hope and the danger of dropping out of the top eight very real, the urgency on the Madrid bench was obvious.
As a result, manager Alvaro Arbeloa responded by rolling the dice late in the game, making three substitutions in the 78th minute in a desperate attempt to find a third goal that could rescue the situation.
Guler’s frustration
One of those changes immediately stole the spotlight. Arda Guler was withdrawn and replaced by Jorge Cestero, and the Turkish midfielder did not try to hide his anger.
As he walked off the pitch, cameras captured Guler gesturing repeatedly towards the bench, clearly unhappy with the decision.
His body language spoke volumes, turning his substitution into one of the most discussed moments of the night.
The frustration was understandable, as Guler had been one of Real Madrid’s more involved players after the break.
👉🏻@iHQGuler pic.twitter.com/C4vjiFcLhg
— | iHQGuler (@15MediaHQ) January 28, 2026
He was actively demanding the ball, helping to initiate attacking moves, and played a crucial role in the build-up to Kylian Mbappe’s second goal with a perfectly weighted pass that allowed the striker to finish.
Despite that contribution, Arbeloa opted for a different profile as the game entered its decisive phase.
With time running out, Real Madrid needed more speed, more presence in the box, and greater chaos in the final third.
That is why Brahim Diaz was introduced, while another substitution saw David Alaba come on for Dean Huijsen, who had been visibly struggling minutes earlier.
On paper, the changes were aggressive and logical.
In reality, though, they had little impact, as the reaction Arbeloa was hoping for never arrived.